Every year, the Easter weekend brings back painful memories for a family in Texas City.
It was on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023, when their loved one tragically lost their life in a car accident.
While cruising along FM 1764 near Highway 3, Damion Rodriguez found himself on the receiving end of a collision with a car as he rode his motorized bike.
Months after his death, his girlfriend joyfully welcomed a fifth child into the world, adding to the four children he had left behind.
The girl, who is now nine months old, was born on Rodriguez’s birthday.
According to Erika Baylor, the child’s mother, he was unable to be present during the event.
“The pain I have endured repeatedly has been overwhelming,” expressed Patricia, Rodriguez’s sister. “It deeply saddens me.”
The driver who hit Rodriguez didn’t stay at the scene.
Authorities are currently searching for a 2013 Ford Fusion in a maroon or burgundy color with significant damage to the front end. Despite their efforts, no arrests have been made in connection with this case, nearly a year later.
Baylor expressed his disbelief and frustration, questioning how someone could treat another person in such a way. He pondered the possibility of a simple phone call to the hospital, speculating that it could have potentially saved a life and prevented the current dire circumstances.
On Saturday, a tribute to Rodriguez, an avid cyclist, sits near the crash site in the form of a white bike.
“Easter Sunday has become a true blessing for us. It is a day of resurrection, and my brother is now in the presence of the Lord,” expressed his sister.